Din Tai Fung, world renowned Taiwanese restaurant loved across generations of international and Singaporean diners, unveils its latest restaurant at ION Orchard, opening its doors on 29 August 2026. With design inspiration drawn from Din Tai Fung Taiwan’s first store at Xinyi Road, Taipei, the new ION Orchard restaurant pays homage to the heritage brand’s essence. With roots stretching back more than 60 years, the opening at ION Orchard marks a new chapter that stays true to where it all began.
From an Oil Shop to an Icon of Craftsmanship
Din Tai Fung’s story began in 1958, when Mr Yang Bing-Yi opened a humble shop selling cooking oil in Taipei. As demand for cooking oil declined in the early 1970s, he began making xiao long bao out of half his shop, a side venture that would go on to define the brand the world knows today.
Consistency, Precision, and the Pursuit of Perfection
At the heart of Din Tai Fung’s brand DNA is a commitment to consistency, precision, and the pursuit of perfection. Consistency means delivering the same quality and care in every dish, every service moment, and every guest experience, guided by carefully selected ingredients and established preparation standards diners can always trust. Precision is seen in the careful preparation of each dish — most visibly in the signature 18 folds of every xiao long bao — and the attention given to every detail, from kitchen to table. And underlying both is the pursuit of perfection: a continuous drive to refine every step, honour every detail, and make each dining experience better than the last, in both food and service.
ION Orchard: A Store Built in the Image of the Very First
An intimate restaurant setting with 100 seats with floor space spread over 3000 square feet, this latest outlet rekindles a cosy setting for shoppers, a keen respite after a busy day of shopping at ION Orchard. Rather than following the template of its more recent openings, Din Tai Fung chose to build its newest restaurant in the image of its very first — reviving the spirit of that original oil shop through design, storytelling and detail.
A dedicated heritage wall traces the brand’s milestones from its founding as an oil shop to its present-day footprint. Beyond that, the wall stands as a tribute to Din Tai Fung’s ongoing commitment to continuous refinement and the pursuit of perfection — a reminder that behind every dish is a standard of craftsmanship perfected over decades and still being perfected today.
In the new restaurant, there is a replicated version of Din Tai Fung’s original signboard. The sign reads “Din Tai Fung Oil Retail,” and ION Orchard marks the first time this piece has been recreated and displayed at any Din Tai Fung restaurant in Singapore.
The Spirit of Din Tai Fung, On Screen
The opening also marks the debut of Din Tai Fung Singapore’s first local brand film since the brand launched in Singapore. Centered on the brand’s DNA of precision, operational excellence and the pursuit of perfection, the 60-second film captures the values that define every Din Tai Fung experience — thoughtful craft, warm service, and the belief that every detail matters. Through this film, Din Tai Fung reaffirms its original intent while continuing to bring people together over meaningful dining moments.
A New Chapter, Rooted in the First
As Din Tai Fung opens its doors at ION Orchard, the new restaurant stands as both a tribute to the brand’s beginnings and a reflection of its continued evolution. From a humble shop in Taiwan to dining tables around the world, Din Tai Fung remains guided by the same founding spirit — to refine every detail, pursue perfection, and serve every guest with sincerity, craft, and warmth.
Exclusive Dishes at ION Orchard
To mark the occasion, Din Tai Fung introduces two dishes available only at its ION Orchard restaurant, each reinterpreting a beloved Taiwanese food staple through the brand’s own lens of precision — fitting, for a brand that itself began as a humble, everyday trade on the streets of Taipei.
